Youthful Glory

To be honest, Ming Tan hadn’t expected her husband to directly pick her up like this.

After leaving Shoukang Palace, Zhai Nianci had been relentlessly following her, spouting mocking remarks until Ming Tan was thoroughly annoyed. By chance, she caught sight of her husband approaching from afar and suddenly hatched a plan.

She interrupted Zhai Nianci and said softly, "The County Princess seems to know very little about men. In that case, why don’t you take a good look at what kind of woman His Highness truly favors?" Then, she pretended to twist her ankle, pausing with a frown and a soft hiss—a flawless performance.

According to Ming Tan’s expectations, her husband would first pay his respects to the Empress, then approach her and ask, "What’s wrong?"

She could then seize the moment, eyes brimming with pitiful tears, and say with restraint, "It’s nothing," before biting her lip and adding, "This concubine just accidentally twisted her foot."

With this move, even if it didn’t earn her husband’s full sympathy, she was certain he would at least support her intimately as they left.

But her husband’s current actions had far exceeded her expectations. Ming Tan was so stunned she even forgot to flash Zhai Nianci a gentle, triumphant smile.

This was the imperial palace!

Thinking back to last year’s Lantern Festival banquet, she had been on high alert, not daring to take a single misstep. Yet now, her husband was carrying her through the palace grounds—wasn’t this far too brazen?

"Husband… shouldn’t you go in to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager first? And the Empress… it seems you haven’t greeted her either. Isn’t this improper?" Ming Tan asked cautiously, her arms looped around Jiang Xu’s neck.

"It’s fine," Jiang Xu replied dismissively.

After walking for a while, Ming Tan ventured another question, "By the way, are you acquainted with Yongle County Princess? She’s quite dashing and even accompanied her father on the northern campaign. From what she said, it seems there’s some history between you two."

"Not acquainted," Jiang Xu replied, glancing down at her indifferently.

Feeling as though she’d been seen through, Ming Tan let out a small "Oh" and obediently dropped the subject.

In truth, Jiang Xu’s "not acquainted" wasn’t just a brush-off. His impression of Yongle County Princess came entirely from the Empress Dowager and her father, who was somewhat skilled in battle.

As for the County Princess’s infatuation with him—how she had once disguised herself to sneak into the military camp, followed her father north for his sake, and even privately thrown tantrums demanding to become Princess Dingbei—he knew none of it. His princess consort could be anyone, but never a close relative of the Empress Dowager.

When they reached Yeyang Gate, Jiang Xu suddenly asked, "How’s your foot?"

Ming Tan shook her head. "Just a slight twist. It’s nothing."

Jiang Xu paused.

Realizing her mistake, Ming Tan quickly tightened her arms around his neck and cooed softly, "But it still hurts a little. I can’t walk on my own."

"..."

Troublesome.

He resumed walking.

Ming Tan couldn’t help but curve her lips upward. If they were going to be brazen, they might as well go all the way—otherwise, getting impeached by the censors would be a real injustice.

Ming Tan was self-aware enough to know that such ostentation would inevitably earn her a mark in the censors’ records.

The next morning, after the court had finished discussing important matters, a censor stepped forward to impeach Prince Dingbei for improper conduct within the palace. Since returning from his military inspection, he had also failed to attend court sessions, showing signs of negligence.

In truth, such impeachments were just routine, a way for the censors to fulfill their monthly quotas. No one expected any actual punishment to come of it. After all, when Prince Dingbei was in the capital, there were hardly any days when he behaved properly or acknowledged others.

But the newly minted father-in-law wouldn’t stand for it.Ming Tingyuan stepped forward and retorted, "This subject believes that His Highness, newly wed, was naturally anxious to protect his injured consort. How can this be called improper conduct?

"Moreover, the accusation of laziness by the Censor is utterly absurd. Civil and military officials each have their own duties. When His Highness was fighting on the battlefield, no one criticized Censor Yang for failing to serve the nation, yet now he nitpicks over trivial household matters, accusing others of laziness!"

Duke Changguo Bai Jingyuan also stepped forward in agreement, "This subject believes Marquis Jing'an speaks rightly. If Prince Dingbei can be called lazy, then there are few in this court who could be deemed diligent and loyal to the sovereign. Even if there were, they certainly wouldn’t be among those like Censor Yang, who fuss over insignificant matters!"

Censor Yang: "..."

Emperor Chengkang: "..."

The court fell silent for a moment, with no one stepping in to mediate.

The truth was, Prince Dingbei’s behavior in the palace was indeed somewhat arrogant.

But Prince Dingbei had always been like this. If he could disrupt a palace banquet without consequence, why fear this incident? Besides, Duke Changguo and Marquis Jing'an weren’t wrong—newly wed, even the Emperor didn’t mind, so why stir up trouble with a pointless memorial?

As for attending court discussions, Prince Dingbei had done so in the past. But when he did, he either stood silently without a word or openly mocked the Empress Dowager. It was better he didn’t attend.

After a long silence in the hall, Emperor Chengkang finally coughed lightly and mediated, "There is no need for such disputes. Prince Dingbei is young and newly married—it’s only natural for him to be devoted to his wife."

He paused, feeling his words somewhat odd, but having said them, he continued, "Moreover, Prince Dingbei has always served the nation with distinction, his military achievements for Daxian evident to all. His absence from court discussions is by Our express permission—there is no need for undue criticism."

With that, he glanced at the Right Minister.

Understanding the hint, the Right Minister promptly stepped forward to report on other matters, deftly shifting the topic and letting the incident pass.

Emperor Chengkang hadn’t given much thought to his casual remark, unaware that his imperial decree of "devoted to his wife" would spread like wildfire after the court session.

With no pressing matters in the court recently, the officials were more than happy to indulge in gossip. Returning to their mansions, they couldn’t resist sharing the news with their wives. Thus, the rumor of Prince Dingbei’s "devotion to his wife" spread throughout the capital’s noble circles in less than half a day.

——

On the third day after the wedding, when brides traditionally returned to their parents’ home, Jiang Xu had just finished his martial training and returned to Qi'an Hall, preparing to accompany Ming Tan back to the Marquis Jing'an residence.

Jiang Xu usually wore black, but as Ming Tan did her makeup, she kept glancing at him through the bronze mirror, hinting that the pine-green casual robe he wore last year at the Great Xiangguo Temple had been quite handsome.

Jiang Xu: "That robe is torn."

"Then does my husband not have any other clothes that aren’t black?" Ming Tan refused to believe it. She stood up and rummaged through the chest herself, pulling out a moon-white robe to hold against him. "How about this one? A Tan thinks it looks rather nice."

Jiang Xu disliked moon-white.

But before he could object, Ming Tan looked at him expectantly and said, "A Tan also has a moon-white brocade skirt. For today’s return visit, won’t you wear the same color as A Tan?"

"..." Jiang Xu averted his gaze uncomfortably. "As you wish."

And so, the couple set off for the Marquis Jing'an residence dressed in matching moon-white robes, accompanied by several carriages of gifts prepared by Uncle Fu for the homecoming.When the two returned to the mansion, Ming Tingyuan had already returned from court. He had taken Emperor Chengkang's remark about "deep affection for his wife" and expanded upon it endlessly, his face glowing with pride as if it were his own achievement. Madam Pei listened with skepticism, feeling that the "deep affection" her Marquis spoke of bore little resemblance to the Prince Dingbei she had seen on the wedding day.

The bride's return to her parental home was no small matter. Though not a grand affair, the Marquis Jing'an's residence had invited all the relatives in the capital for a family banquet.

Shen Hua and Bai Minmin naturally attended as well.

Men had their gatherings, and women had their private conversations. After exchanging pleasantries with the aunts and cousins who came to greet her, Ming Tan seized the opportunity to return to Zhaoshui Courtyard with Shen Hua and Bai Minmin.

Though only a few days had passed since she last visited, the furnishings in Zhaoshui Courtyard remained unchanged. Yet Ming Tan inexplicably felt that the years she had spent there as a maiden were now distant—and would only grow more so with time.

"So, how is it? How has His Highness treated you these past few days as newlyweds? I heard from my father on the way here that His Highness carried you in the palace yesterday, and Censor Yang submitted a memorial criticizing him. Then my father and yours confronted Censor Yang in court. Anyway, it sounds like His Highness is quite taken with you," Bai Minmin asked excitedly.

Ming Tan cupped her cheeks and nodded shyly. "His Highness treats me very well. I think... he might be somewhat fond of me?"

She had always been a proper young lady of noble birth. Apart from reading a few romance novels with Bai Minmin, she had rarely interacted with men outside her family and knew little about love or affection.

But her husband was handsome, and she was willing to spend her life with him—so she must be fond of him. And since he praised her beauty and treated her well, he must be fond of her too?

Ming Tan found her own logic quite sound and nodded in agreement with herself.

Shen Hua gently fanned herself and smiled. "Looking at Fourth Sister's radiant glow and dreamy eyes, it's clear His Highness treats her exceptionally well."

Bai Minmin, still unmarried, didn’t catch the implication behind Shen Hua's words about "radiant glow and dreamy eyes" and naively pressed further, "If Prince Dingbei treats you so well, have you two... consummated the marriage?"

Shen Hua's teasing had already flushed Ming Tan's ears, and Bai Minmin's blunt question turned her neck scarlet.

"Did you or didn’t you?" Bai Minmin persisted.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Ming Tan couldn’t take it anymore.

Bai Minmin's eyes sparkled. "Really?"

"......"

Ming Tan ignored her.

"So... how is Prince Dingbei?"

Bai Minmin fiddled with her fingers, her face alight with gossip.

Now it was Ming Tan's turn to be confused. "How is what?"

"Just—" Bai Minmin scratched her head, unsure how to phrase it delicately. Recently, her curiosity had been piqued by a new novel she’d read, which mentioned that newlywed brides often shared intimate details with close friends—so she decided to ask.

Shen Hua, being married, had some experience in the matter and lowered her voice with a smirk. "How many times did he call for water in one night?"

Ming Tan finally understood and, without hesitation, swatted Bai Minmin with her fan, glaring at her. "Have you no shame, an unmarried girl asking such things?"

"Well, you’re the shameless one here, not me."Bai Minmin was exceptionally skilled at dredging up old grievances, recounting once more the absurdities from before Ming Tan's marriage, like sneaking into the military camp to peek at erotic illustrations.

In short, the conversation meandered back and forth, with neither Bai Minmin nor Shen Hua letting her off the hook, eventually circling back to matters of the bedchamber.

Ming Tan rested her chin in her hands, shyly pinching her earlobes as she recalled for a moment before admitting bashfully, "His Highness is... quite formidable, I suppose? He calls for water twice in one night—it's rather exhausting." Having no experience to compare, how would she know what counted as formidable or not?

Bai Minmin looked puzzled. "Is twice considered formidable? The romance novels I read mention seven times."

Ming Tan: "...?"

Was that so?

So according to Bai Minmin, her husband wasn't quite up to par?

Just as Jiang Xu reached the door of the chamber, intending to call Ming Tan out for dinner, he paused mid-step.